KAFART sheds more light on NFT art in Northern Nigeria, connect African creators

The Kaduna Fashion and Art Exhibition (KAFART) has exposed northern artists to Non-Fungible Tokens, (NFT) as an alternative source of generating income.

NFTs are cryptographic assets on blockchain technology with unique identification codes and metadata that helps distinguish artworks from each other. It allows art to be sold in a digital form by establishing the secure ownership of an original digital asset, which can also open up access to active new communities of interested buyers.

Speaking at the KAFART exhibition in Kaduna, two discussants, Tope Akintayo and who is the founder of the Move magazine, and Jimmy Akintunde emphasized on cultural preservation through NFTs. Akintayo explained that NFTs’ influence in today’s finances and culture in Africa has received a tremendous boost, hence the need for northern curators to take advantage of it.

According to Akintayo, Non-fungible tokens are disrupting the traditional art market, and the underutilized Northern Nigerian art collections stands a chance to benefit immensely from the initiative.

“With the exposure to NFTs, Northern Nigeria in the nearest future will not only contribute to the nation’s GDP through agriculture but also via the sales of its rich arts and cultural creations,” he said.

Meanwhile, in her opening remark, the creative director of KAFART, Ganeeyah Sanni said the annual exhibition is organized by NYH Concepts, a creative company based in Kaduna with the main aim of highlighting and celebrating the vibrant arts and fashion in Northern Nigeria.

She maintained that the exhibition provides a platform for creatives in Northern Nigeria to showcase their talent; improve their creative skills and stimulate Northern Nigeria’s creative economy through collaboration and purchase.

“The project is the vanguard art platform in the whole of Northern Nigeria – with heavy participation from Kaduna, Abuja, Kano, and Jos,” she added.

She explained that the project is a beneficiary of ‘Programme AWA’ by the European Union, Institut Francais, ACP-Culture, Kore Cultural Center, Segou, Mali, which aims to support the structuring of cultural and creative industries in West Africa.

“The objective of the program is to promote the revitalization of the competitiveness of West African cultural and creative industries throughout the value chain,” Sani noted.

Sanni said “for our third edition, we decided to go big on Culture, to spread beyond the Crocodile city and our motherland to intersect the cultures from within Sahel Africa. We want to tell a story, and we believe that the fashion feels in Zaria can resonate with the people in Dakar, Khartoum, and Bamako to mention a few.

She said “the intersection was born out of real events that have revealed the disconnect that Africa is currently experiencing. There’s so much we don’t know about one another regarding our cultures, beliefs, and values. We want to keep positioning the fashion and arts as channels that reignite our connection as Africans.

In a chat with the Guardian, the Secretary of the KAFART Exhibition, Alamin Muhammad Yushau said the opening night of the exhibition which took place at the Kaduna Polo Club, had the attendance of participating artists and fashion designers, partners, sponsors, and other invited guests.

He said “the exhibition displayed works by 17 fashion designers and 15 artists. The works displayed are from both domestic and international artists and fashion designers. It sported works by TJ Benson, Vetum Galadima, Abdulrazaq Ahmed, Francis Oshorenoya David, Aisha Mbaya, Saidu Hasheem, Ibrahim Saleh, Faith Sabo, Ahmed Abdullahi, Rebi Hueman, Inatimi Nathus and by international artists like Nybé Ponzio, Fatouma Aiya, Milcos, and Almogera Abdalbagea.

“An amazing performance by the Mud Art Dance Contemporary Dance Company took place which energized the audience. The pulchritudinous models closed the day’s curtains by serving everyone with gorgeous designs.”

Similarly, the tail end of the event witnessed a fashion parade, a display of Art in Augmented Reality (AR ), and live song performances by Kaduna artists.